For the next two
days, Isa was in such high spirits, she completely forgot about
Nidric and the war. When Diamo walked into the tavern at noon, she
was almost confused as to why he should look so serious.

“Greetings,
Isa. Thank you for sending Cerie immediately. I have more news of how
the situation is developing. Uh...” He looked around. The
tavern was empty, since most travelers would not come to the tavern
until evening. “I take it we are alone?”

“Yes,”
Isa answered.

“Hm. Well,
the rest of the people who live in your town should probably hear
this as well. I’ll have to trust you with spreading the word to
whomever it concerns. But keep it away from travelers’ ears,
since you may not know exactly who is listening.”

“Come have a
seat, will you?” It was just beginning to sink into Isa’s
mind that this might be a good time to stop feeling so giddy and
start being more attentive.

Diamo sat in a
barstool and said, “We’ve learned more from the fairies.
Here is where things stand:

“Desdon
reconnaissance is, as you’ve noticed, picking up. They are now
determined to come to this village and cut off all land trade to
Incria, but this will not be easy for them. Spies are quick, but it
takes a large effort to mobilize an entire infantry to a certain
location—especially if the plan is to keep that infantry’s
movement a secret. It is unclear whether or not Incria has noticed
Desdon’s interest in the heartland trade routes. On the one
hand, Incria’s forces show no sign of moving in the same
direction. On the other hand, Desdon is being so obvious about
its plan, in spite of itself. One cannot just move that many soldiers
and not have the other side notice.

“The good
news in all of this is that it will take a few fortnights for them to
get here, assuming they keep their current pace. For our part, we
woodlanders are keeping check of all this movement. If need be, we
will do everything in our power to stop either army from going this
far west.”

Isa was still
smiling, if only a little.

“So what are
we supposed to do here in The Windmill Road? Just sit and wait for
things to develop?”

Diamo nodded. “I
see your point. Yes, I’m sorry to say, there’s not much
you can do right now. I thought you should be aware of it all,
though.”

Isa sighed. She
knew Diamo was right, but still, it bothered her that such events
should ever even come close to her peaceful town. In a way, she
wished Diamo hadn’t made her “aware of it all.”
But that wishful thinking would get her nowhere in the end...

Later that night,
after Diamo had left, more travelers came to gather and share
stories. There was no minstrel this time; Isa was worried that within
days, every minstrel in Aren Country would be warned to stay away
from this tavern because the competition was too fierce.

One young man in
chain mail sat at the bar and ordered himself a pint of brew. When
Isa first looked at him, she shrugged him off as yet another dragon
slayer. When she handed him his drink, she asked what brought him
here. She expected a rant about swords and prophecies... Instead,
though, she learned this:

“My family in
the north sent for me. Their town has been under siege, and Incria’s
army needs recruits. So I’m headed to the battle to help my
hometown.”

Upon hearing this
answer, Isa looked the man over more closely. He was tall, blond, and
very attractive, yet he did not speak as though he had intelligence
equivalent to that of an eggplant. There had to be a catch...

He went on. “I
left my family only a few years ago. It’s sort of a custom that
boys should go out on their own and seek adventure or join the army
at age sixteen. I chose adventure. I wanted to see it all: the fabled
woodlands, the dusty plains... For three years I roamed this land,
and I’ve been through this town many times before, though you
may not remember me, what with all the people you must see every
day.”

Isa did not
remember him. She realized that this man was telling her far more
information than she had asked. This was usually only the case with
people who had gone far too long without anyone to speak to... Most
of these talkative cases were actually introverts—sensitive
people who had kept all their feelings to themselves before this
moment.

Isa had other
customers to tend to, but she wanted to hear this man out. He was
already gorgeous, smart, and sensitive... There really had to
be a catch. Homosexual, maybe?

He continued
talking, since Isa would not interrupt him.

“I’ve
seen all there is to see, basically, and I find it all fascinating. I
guess all that was left for me was to find a nice girl and settle
down somewhere...”

Not homosexual.
Must be lying about something. Maybe he was trying to trick her...
talking smoothly just to take advantage of her.

“...But then
two days ago, I got word that several villages in the area of Incria
were under attack. One of these was my own. Now I have to head back.
I’m sorry I ever left my family like that... I hope I arrive
before it’s too late.”

Here it comes,
thought Isa. He’ll try to make his move...

The man finished
his ale and stood. “I have to be traveling all night. Here’s
for the drink...” He put his coins on the bar. “Goodbye.”

Isa stood stunned
for half a second. “Goodbye?” she thought. What
kind of move is that? Then something in her snapped, though she
could not tell what it was.

“Excuse me,
sir?” she called to him as he had turned his back.

“Yes?”
he said over his shoulder. His demeanor really was that of a man in a
hurry. “May I ask, what is your name?”

“Asmir. Asmir
of Peadston.”

“I’m
Isa.”

“Uh, nice to
meet you, Isa. But I have to be going.” He made a motion as if
to tip his hat, but because he had no hat, this was pointless. Then
he turned and strode out of the tavern.

Isa went back to
serving customers, but it was a long while before she could get
Asmir’s image out of her mind. If that man were telling the
truth...

Well, it’s
best not to think about it, she concluded. If he’s going
to war, he might die anyway. Then what would be the point in getting
interested in him?

For some reason,
this last thought hit hard on her heart. What hit hard on her brain
was the inability to explain why that was. Most of all, she could not
help but feel that she just missed some sort of opportunity... one
she could not even prove existed in the first place.